Scotland vs Japan, Sat, 09/11/2013 - 14:30

Scotland opened their viagogo Autumn Test campaign with a six-try 42-17 win over Japan in front of a 32,680 crowd at Murrayfield Stadium this afternoon.

Run of play match report (as it happened)

6’ PEN (Laidlaw)! Direct, physical play from the Scots earns their way into the Japan 22. The hosts are awarded a penalty from a re-set scrum, which Edinburgh Rugby captain Greig Laidlaw duly strikes between the posts to open the scoring (3-0).

14’ BIG hit from lock Tim Swinson to halt an extended period of Japanese pressure deep in the Scotland 22.

The visitors knock on but then win a scrum against the head, before being turned over in the danger area, allowing Scotland to clear at last (3-0).

21’ PEN (Laidlaw)! After a bit of an arm wrestle, the Scots earn territory and then a kickable penalty, which the little general struck soundly through the posts, making 199 points for his country (6-0).

24’ The Japanese pay a heavy price for kicking for touch instead of the posts as their kick for the 5m line goes out in the dead ball area. a big let off for the hosts who win a penalty from the resulting scrum (6-0).

29’ The men in red look to exploit an overlap as Scotland prop Ryan Grant goes down injured. Good scramble defence shuts down the rushing attack as it reaches the 22 (6-0).

28’ SUB (Alasadair Dickinson on for Grant).

32’ TRY (Seymour)! A classy finish from the winger who crosses out wide for his first try in three Tests for his country, after some hard yards from Alasdair Dickinson and David Denton in the middle (11-0).

32’ MISS CON (Laidlaw) – The scrum-half misses the opportunity to extend the lead from the touchline (11-0).

34’ Japan unrelenting in their efforts to cross the whitewash, race into Scotland’s 22 once again. Winger Kenki Fukuoka is brought down on the 5m line before the referee pulled play back for an earlier infringement.

35’ PEN (Ayumu Goromaru)! The full-back bisects the posts with a clean penalty kick from inside the 22 (11-3).

38’ NO TRY! The TMO chalks off Sean Lamont’s "try" after a fine break from centre Nick De Luca. Swinson pinged for obstruction (11-3).

HALF-TIME: Scotland 11-3 Japan

42’ TRY (Fukuoka)! Impressive stuff from the winger who burst up field from the 22 after a quick tap free-kick. He was tackled on the half-way line but was up on his feet to re-join the back line and sprint around under the posts (11-8).

43’ CON (Goromaru)! The full-back added the extras from the straight on kick (11-10).

46’ TRY (Laidlaw)! Great reaction from Scotland who re-take possession from the kick-off and batter up field. After several pick and goes from the big men, it was Laidlaw who sniped through at the side of the ruck topass the 200-point mark in the blue of Scotland (16-10).

47’ CON (Laidlaw)! Laidlaw adds the extras (18-10).

51’ TRY (Fukuoka)! The winger crosses for his second try of the match after stand-off Kosei Ono broke through (18-15).

52’ CON (Goromaru)! A marksman-like conversion from the full-back keeps his nation a point adrift (18-17).

54’ TRY (Seymour)! A second try from the winger who was in acres of space to receive a big big miss pass floated over the top from Warriors teammate Ruaridh Jackson, with only the paint between him and the five points (23-17).

55’ MISS CON (Laidlaw).

57’ SUB (Lock Richie Gray on for Kellock). He is greeted with a huge cheer.

60’ Fine, clean break from captain Kelly Brown from the 22 is halted on the 5m line with the chance at quick ball disrupted illegally. Japan number 8 Ryu Koliniasi Holani sent to the sin bin.

63’ TRY (Dickinson)! After an overlap had gone wanting, Japan scrambled and cleared. The Scots ran the ball back with a vengeance.

Centres Matt Scott and Nick De Luca combine to make big yards upfield before a quick interchange between Laidlaw, Brown, Ford and Jackson finds Dickinson who ran in under the posts for his second score in 28 caps (28-17).

64’ CON (Laidaw)! The scrum-half made no mistake with the straight on conversion (30-17)

65’ SUB (stand-off Duncan Weir on for Jackson).

68’ TRY (Weir)! Four minutes after coming off the bench Weir was there to score after Sean Maitland made it to the 5m line and offered the inside ball (35-17).

69’ MISS CON (Laidlaw) (35-17)

70’ SUB (Back-row John Barclay on for Strokosch; hooker Pat MacArthur on for Ford).

73’ SUB (Prop Geoff Cross on for Murray; Henry Pyrgos on for Laidlaw).

75’ SUB (Duncan Taylor on for Maitland).

77’ TRY (Lamont)! Lamont wins the foot race to a ball box kicked over top thanks to the good vision of replacement scrum-half Pygros (40-17).